"ESPN's unparalleled multimedia platform is the perfect home for the UFC and will deliver tremendous value to both parties," ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro said. "UFC fans are passionate and loyal and we plan to bring the full power of ESPN's live coverage, powerful storytelling and unmatched distribution to serve them in an unprecedented fashion."

"Every year for the last 18 years, we've done something to take the sport to another level, and we did it again with this deal," UFC president Dana White said. "It's massive on so many different levels. We're on what everyone looks at as the world leader in sports."

Fox Sports, the UFC's exclusive rights partner since 2011, was originally interested in staying in business with the UFC until NBC declined its option to match for WWE's "SmackDown Live" and Fox won those rights instead.

The domestic television deal with ESPN should bring further stability to the UFC's profits, as it has historically relied heavily on a pay-per-view model. That model is volatile, due to the possibility of proven stars losing or retiring and injuries, among other factors.

"We are ecstatic about the deal, we are ecstatic about the partner and we are ecstatic about the platform," added Mark Shapiro, co-president of WME-IMG, which owns the UFC.

WWE has agreed in principle to make Fox the new home of "SmackDown Live," after the network came to WWE with what sources described as a "massive" offer.

The Hollywood Reporter reports that the five-year deal has a total value of more than $1 billion.

Sources said the deal will begin in October 2019, with The Wrap reporting that the show will move to Friday nights on Fox's broadcast channel.

A representative for WWE declined to comment. A Fox spokesperson could not immediately be reached.

As first reported by the Hollywood Reporter on Thursday, NBC Universal declined its right of first refusal to hit the numbers that WWE proposed on "SmackDown." NBC instead focused its efforts on "Monday Night Raw."

With live TV viewed as a prized commodity in the era of DVR and on-demand and "SmackDown Live" straddling the worlds of scripted and sports TV, Fox greatly valued the opportunity to pursue one of WWE's signature programs.

"SmackDown Live," which airs on Tuesdays, has averaged 2.59 million viewers per week in 2018, while "Raw" has averaged about 3 million viewers.

One of WWE's two weekly live broadcast shows, "SmackDown Live" has aired on NBC Universal networks since October 2010, first calling the SyFy network its home from 2010 to 2015 before debuting on the USA Network in January 2016. Before that, "SmackDown" aired on broadcast TV, starting in 1999 on UPN, followed by runs on the CW and My Network TV.

"Monday Night Raw" called USA Network home from 1993 to 2000 and returned there in October 2005 -- a run that carries through present day.

Since Thursday morning, when the Hollywood Reporter broke news of the opening of negotiations, WWE's stock, through 11:30 a.m. ET Monday, was up 19.1 percent.

]]>Other Sports Talkkey2winhttps://community.cardboardconnection.com/forums/forum/hobby-talk/other-sports-talk/563223-fox-reaches-5-year-1-billion-agreement-for-wwe-smackdownPlano TX Card Show 6.9-10https://community.cardboardconnection.com/forums/forum/collectors-resources/show-schedules/563219-plano-tx-card-show-6-9-10
Tue, 22 May 2018 00:36:25 GMTOur next sports card show is scheduled for June 9-10 at the Comfort Inn and Suites Plano East. The Comfort Inn is located at 700 E Central Parkway...Our next sports card show is scheduled for June 9-10 at the Comfort Inn and Suites Plano East. The Comfort Inn is located at 700 E Central Parkway Plano TX 75074 and the hours will be Saturday 10-4 and Sunday 11-3. We are happy to announce the great Roger Neufeuldt will be setting up and Larry Dluhy is working to bring us autograph guests. We will have other surprises as well to make this a fun weekend! See you then!Show Schedulessabrgeekhttps://community.cardboardconnection.com/forums/forum/collectors-resources/show-schedules/563219-plano-tx-card-show-6-9-10